June 4, 2024

By Devon Teeple

The GM’s Perspective

Canada’s lone MLB squad has experienced notable shifts in their managerial leadership in recent years, leading to contrasting opinions and decisions from the front office.

The tenures of Charlie Montoyo and John Schneider provide an interesting case study into the management’s criteria for success and the consistency of their decision-making process.

Montoyo’s tenure with the Blue Jays began in 2019 and lasted until mid-2022. During this period, Montoyo managed a total of 472 games, with a win-loss record of 236-236.

Despite showing consistent improvement and leading the team to the playoffs in 2020, Montoyo’s tenure was marked by a “sense” of unfulfilled potential and speculation that they needed a more cohesive team performance.

John Schneider took over mid-season in 2022 and has managed 294 games to date, with a cumulative win-loss record of 163-131. While Schneider started strong, his record shows a downward trend, raising concerns about the team’s trajectory under his leadership. This is particularly noteworthy given his long-tenured relationship with the core players he has coached in the minors.

Atkins’ comments upon firing Montoyo reflected a deep disappointment with the team’s performance. He acknowledged individual performances but emphasized the need for the team to play better as a whole. Belief in Montoyo as a baseball leader was strong, yet the decision-makers felt a change was necessary for the team to be better suited for the future.

Fast-forward to a very disappointing 2024, and Atkins and the Jays’ leadership team have consistently supported Schneider. He’s been praised for his tireless efforts and his significant role in the team’s environment. Atkins explicitly stated that change for the sake of change was not his philosophy. He remains a part of the solution despite the team’s current struggles.

With all the information available about the backgrounds of players and managers, there is surprisingly little discussion about why managers get fired, at least as to WHY Montoyo was terminated. Is transparency not a fundamental part of effective leadership? While managerial decisions in sports may not directly affect the average person, the decision-making processes under Atkins and Shapiro are frequently questioned. Where is the accountability?

If the Blue Jays continue to falter and Schneider is eventually fired, what is the deciding factor? What is the reason? The lack of transparency in these decisions puts their leadership in question. And if Schneider is not the problem, then it has to be the players, right?

If you supplant this into a typical business environment, there would be endless questions about criteria for leadership changes. It raises a broader issue about the need for clearer communication and justification from those at the helm, ensuring that all stakeholders understand the rationale behind the moves.

The tenures of Montoyo and Schneider reveal intriguing and confusing insights into the Blue Jays’ leadership decisions. Montoyo was dismissed despite consistency, while Schneider enjoys support despite a decline and an underwhelming 2024 campaign.